Heather Worth talks with her daughter, Karlee Castle, while waiting to drop off Karlee at the Mountain Home Kindergarten on Wednesday during the first day of classes. (Photo: Kevin Pieper/The Baxter Bulletin)

Students return to classes for 2014-15 school year

Mountain Home Public Schools opened its doors to several thousand students Wednesday. With students ranging from kindergarten to high school in the district's system, traffic grew around many parts of the city.

"We had some sad mommas, but some happy little children," said Joy Walker, kindergarten secretary. "They're excited about being here."

For many kindergartners, this is the first time they have ever been in school and away from family members all day.

"The first day is going great," Walker said. "They have wide eyes and are happy to get started."

The weather was hot on the first day of classes, but students at the elementary school were staying cool throughout the building and during physical education, thanks to air conditioning being added to the gymnasium.

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"I thought it went super smooth this morning, because we always have to work out our routines and procedures when our new families enter our campus with our first-graders," said Nelson-Wilks-Herron Principal Leah Cotter. "It went really great this morning. I think it's just a note on what a great year we're going to have."

Assistant Superintendent Leigh Anne Gigliotti said NWH had a good start. She said teachers and staff were excited to welcome back students in first and second grade. Gigliotti added the faculty and staff were prepared.

"I'm from Mountain Home. I graduated from high school in Mountain Home. Being from the community and being a part of the school district is exciting as a whole," Gigliotti said. "What I'm excited about is the teamwork. We have exceptional students, excellent teachers and staff, and I'm proud of the teamwork here in Mountain Home."

Pinkston Middle School math teacher Kristi Nelson's shares a light moment with Alice Bates on Wednesday during the first day of school. (Photo: Kevin Pieper/The Baxter Bulletin)

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Gigliotti, who is in her fifth year on the job at MHPS, said the car line went very smoothly. "I think the last car was at 8:05. Students were excited to come back to school; there was a lot of good energy," she said. "It's just great to welcome back our students to a new school year."

Cotter, who has spent 10 years at NWH, was waving kids and parents in at 7:20 a.m.

Traffic also flowed smoothly at Pinkston Middle School, according to Principal Michele McWilliams, who gave much of the credit to Danielle Campfield, Pinkston's DARE officer.

"We had a lot of parents here to help students with the lockers," McWilliams said.

Students color for the first hour of class at Hackler Intermediate. (Photo: Kaitlyn Schwers/The Baxter Bulletin)

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The line of traffic also was a prominent feature of the first day on the roads around Hackler Intermediate, junior high and high schools. At 7:15 a.m., the streets were relatively quiet and there was no line to the schools. Within 15 minutes, however, it was a different story with traffic backed up Sixth Street all the way to Main Street as parents and buses tried to drop off students.

"We are most excited that we have about 940 students here at Hackler," said Principal Sondra Monger. "We are excited to get back to school. School is more fun when kids are here. Summer is kind of boring without kids in the building. We're excited to showcase our Dr. Seuss theme this year and using it into education."

A group of girls head into MHJHS as the first bell of the year rings. (Photo: Joseph Price)

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"Everybody came back ready to go to school," said Brent Body, assistant principal at Mountain Home Junior High School.

Body said a new flexible schedule has been implemented by Principal Ron Czanstkowski and his staff. He said the schedule gives more flexibility during the day and allows students to take the classes they really want to take.